author & editor

40 Days of 3 Questions – Day 14

For the next few weeks, meet here every morning with a notebook or document to answer three questions about writing, about your status quo as a writer, or about the writing life. You can answer briefly and go about your day, or you can use this as a warm up exercise before your regular writing schedule. Whatever works for you, works for me.

Day 14 Questions

1. When did you write your first story?

2. Did you read or tell it to anyone?

3. Is there a story you’ve always wanted to write but never have (so far)?

You may post answers in comments or keep your thoughts private–your choice!

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10 thoughts on “40 Days of 3 Questions – Day 14”

What published works are similar to your current project? The Nightingale, English Patient
How is your work alike and different? I’m using a POV of a female during wartime faced with a challenge that tests her core beliefs. Mine is based on someone I knew. How is my mine different? Um…I’m far from being as talented a writer as they. Far!
What one book/story would you hold up as the most like your current project? Hmm. I have a few what I refer to as “template” books. I’d say The Nightingale.

I wrote lots of stories as a child. “The Viking Girl” won a contest when I was nine and was published in the Pasadena Star News. I was paid two dollars! I stopped writing fiction in high school when I turned to journalism, and it took me forty years to get back to it. I have a multiple POV story brewing but it’s not ready to come out yet.

I started by drawing my stories at about eight years of age. Most were inspired by television shows and books I read. A lot of it could have been considered Black Stallion fanfiction. This was followed by Archie stories, then the X-Men. I didn’t try prose until college.

I wrote my first story with crayons and probably read them to my parents. Fast forward to high school where I wrote “novels” in spiral-bound notebooks and passed the works-in-progress around to my “fans” during study halls. That was the first time I heard, “write more!” and found it addictive! Is there a story I’ve wanted to write and haven’t? Yes. I sort of wrote it back in those high school days, but I want to (someday) take a serious stab at it again.

1. When did you write your first story?
In high school. It was a fantasy story about a girl I loved. Her name was Wildflower! Perfect Flower Child! She still lives in my heart! . . . Also, lots of poems about love from grade school on . . .

2. Did you read or tell it to anyone?
I shared it with Joan, the real Wildflower inspiration!

3. Is there a story you’ve always wanted to write but never have (so far)?
I just restarted “Wildflower.” I lost the original along the road of life and have come back . . . Since that time, there have been many inspirations . . . Including the beautiful song by Poco, titled “Magnolia” . . . How cool is that for a Wildflower . . . In addition to many Wildflowers, there have been a few bricks : – )

1. When did you write your first story?
That depends on your definition. I drew stories in crayon as a child before I could write words. Then I progressed to one strip comics, like the ones I read in the newspaper. I wrote two “novels” when I was about 10 or 11. They may have been 5 or 6 pages long, printed on lined paper. I remember both of them, but don’t have them.

2. Did you read or tell it to anyone?
I don’t think I showed anyone the “novels” but may have showed my parents my comic strips.

3. Is there a story you’ve always wanted to write but never have (so far)?
Yes, the story of my life. Whenever I tell people things that have happened, they always tell me I need to do that. I’ve made several abortive attempts, but I don’t think I’ve found the right way to start it yet.

1. When did you write your first story? When I was a child.
2. Did you read or tell it to anyone? I had a wonderful grandmother who lived far away. We wrote letters and I sent her some of my stories. I also read them to our dog.
3. Is there a story you’ve always wanted to write but never have (so far)? Yes. It’s my first idea for a mystery series. I tried valiantly to write it but my lack of craft knowledge didn’t help. I decided to set it aside, learn more about writing with another story and then I might go back to the initial one.